Rail-chair.



A. G. LIEBMANN.

' RAIL CHAIR. APPLIUATION FILED APR. 28, 1913.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

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sarns EN @FFTCE.

AUGUST G. LIEBMANN, 0F BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR TO VIG'NOLES RAIL CHAIRCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RAIL-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 26, 1%15.

Application filed April 28, 1913. Serial No. 764,151.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUoUsr G. LIEBMANN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county ofSilverbow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rail Chalrs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to track equipment and particularly to means forsupporting the rails upon the ties.

The ordinary method of attaching rails to ties by means of spikes isopen to many objections. It is expensive to keep the ralls properlyalined and gaged, the constant arring action of passing trains tends to08611- late the spikes thus enlarging the holes formed by the spikes andloosening the spikes, and further the lateral thrust of the wheel loadstends to'shift the spikes laterally and also tends to tip the railparticularly on curves, thus causing a greater or less withdrawal of thespikes which in course of time will loosen the spikes to a degreerendering the track unsafe. Further than this, the changes in level ofthe rail due to frost or thaw where the rails are spiked upon the tiesacts to either withdraw the spikes or if the spikes cannot be withdrawn,acts to shear the base flange of the rail. Further objections to thespike and the reason why the spike contributes to tie destructlons arethat where a soft wood tie is used the rail and the tie is not held withsufficient iirmness to prevent impact of the rail. This results in amore or less rapid wearing out of the tie. Further, in driving the spikeinto any of the softer woods the fibers are broken to an unusual extent.As a result, they do not withstand the lateral pressure of the rail andconsequently the spike hole is rapidly increased to such an extent thatthe spike no longer holds. \Vater collects in the enlarged hole anddecay sets in. Again, whenever a spike becomes so loose that it nolonger holds, it is pulled out and driven in at another point. Thisconstant respiking rapidly ruins the tie, besides adding very greatly tothe expense chargeable to the maintenance of way.

The advantage of a construction wherein a screw spike may be used is ofcourse apparent. The screw spike, as held by engineers, prevents themechanical injury to the tie at the time when the spike is inserted andwhen it is once put in, it holds the rail plate to the tie so firmlythat a large part of the wear upon the tie is done away with.

The advantage of chairs or tie plates is also obvious. The tie plateacts to distribute the load from the rail to the tie an d prevent themechanical abrasion of the tie. Where rails are laid directly upon thetie, the narrow base cuts into the tie and by using a broad, flat platethis cutting is very largely eliminated. The greater the size of thisplate, of course, the more uniform the distribution of pressure on thetie and the less wear and abrasion.

WVith these objections in view, the primary object of the invention isthe provision of a very simple and effective form of rail chair designedto firmly support the rail under all circumstances and to support therail against vertical or lateral thrusts and against tipping action.

A further object of the invention is to so form the rail chair that itmay be economically made out of an ordinary standard structural elementand will also allow for adjustment of gage and shimming of track andrapid disengagement for rail renewals.

A further object of the invention is to so form the chair and the railengaging brace that the rail may be readily elevated or depressed tovertically adjust it or may be laterally shifted within the chair:

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with achair of the character described, rail braces which will translate anytipping thrust into practically a lateral thrust.

A further object is to provide means whereby if the level of the railrelative to the tie should be changed, as by the rail being liftedthrough the action of frost, the rail braces will yield sufficiently topermit this change in level without causing a shearing action upon thebase of the rail.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a tie and a rail with the improvedchair applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tie and chair,the rail being in section and one of the abutments being in section;Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in section of the construction shown inFig. 2. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the drift bolts.

Corresponding and. like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingsby the same reference characters.

Referring to these figures, A designates a tie and B a rail. Disposedbetween the tie and the rail is a chair comprising a bed plate 2preferably of a width approximately equal to that of the tie, this chairbeing formed at opposite ends and along its median plane with verticallydisposed abutments 3. These abutments are disposed opposite to eachother and are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater thanthe width of the base of the rail B. The inher face of each abutment isvertical and the outer face is curved downward and outward, the outeredge face of each abutment being shown as coincident with the end of thebed plate though this is not necessarily the case. Each abutment isvertically recessed upon its inner face as at 1. The material formingthe inner wall of this recess is extended inward as at 5 to form part ofthe lower wall or bottom of the recess. This extension 5, however, doesnot extend out the full depth of the side walls 6 of the recess. Each ofthese side walls 6 is formed with a plurality of perforations 7, theperforations of one wall, of course, alining with the perforations ofthe wall opposite. Each of these perforations 7 is provided with alateral extension 8.

The bed .plate is held upon the tie by screw spikes 9 of the usual andstandard construction, these screw spikes having heads which bear uponthe upper face of the bed plate, the screw spikes extending throughperforations in the bed plate on each side of the abutments and beingdriven into the tie A. The tie A may be of wood or any other suitablematerial, as the improved chair is equally adapted to all forms of tie.

The rail is braced and supported between the abutments by means of railbraces 10. These braces are downwardly and outwardly extended and attheir upper ends bear beneath the head of the rail. The lower ends ofthe braces are enlarged and so formed as to fit over the margin of thebase flange of the rail as at 11. The material of the braces isoutwardly extended as at 12 to form a shank 13 which is inserted in andfits the recess 4 of the corresponding abutment. This shank portion fitsthe recess 4. snugly enough to prevent any tipping movement of the railbraces parallel to the rail B. The shank 13 of the rail brace is formedwith a transverse aperture 14, having a lateral extension 15. Theaperture in the extension 13 of each rail brace is adapted to registerwith the apertures 7 of the side walls 6 of the corresponding abutment.

Passing through these apertures 7 and the aperture 14 is a driftboltdesignatedlfi. This drift bolt is circular in section but one sideis formed with a fin 17 the face of this fin being inclined so thattransversely the drift bolt is tapered. One end of the drift bolt isformed with a head 18 while the other extremity is screw threaded as at19 to receive a nut 20. This nut may be of any suitable character, butis shown as being perforated for the introduction of a wrench, pin orspanner. I do not wish to be limited to the means for locking the driftbolt in place, as it is obvious that other means may be provided thanthe nut 20.

lVith the parts constructed as before described the rail will beheld inits adjusted position against any lateral thrust by means of the railbraces which in turn will be held in their adjusted position by means ofthe drift bolts 16. Inasmuch as the fins on these drift bolts havewedge-like faces, it will be obvious that by retracting one of the driftbolts and forcing in the other drift bolt, the rail will be shiftedtransversely of the chair and that it will be held firmly in thisshifted position. No special tools are required for this purpose, as itis only necessary to use a spanner or wrench for taking off the nut 20and a sledge hammer for driving in or driving out one or the other ofthe wedging or drift bolts, these drift bolts acting as wedges forlaterally shifting the rail and braces.

In many cases it is desirable either to temporarily or permanently raisethe rail. In this case the drift bolts are removed and then a shim isinserted beneath the base of the rail, lifting the rail and the railbraces upward. These shims will be made of certain standard sizes whichwill correspond to the distance of the drift bolt openings 7 from eachother. After the rail has been raised to the height desired, the driftbolts are again inserted in such manner as to hold the rail from lateralshifting and in the position desired. The nuts 20 are again disposedupon the bolts and lock them in place.

The type of rail chair heretofore described and illustrated isparticularly adapted for use in terminal yards where it is necessary toprovide a rail chair so constructed as to render impossible theinsertion of a foot between the rail and the abutments. In theconstruction illustrated the iner faces of the abutments are so close tothe sides of the rail head that the workman cannot accidentally inserthis foot. It is to be particularly noted that the rail chair asdescribed may be easily formed by rolling and pressing. It is also to benoted that any tipping action of the rail is resisted on one side by theop posite downwardly extending rail brace and on the side where thepressure is exerted by the fin on the drift bolt which prevents arotation of the bolt and prevents therefore a rotation of the brace. Ifby any chance, as through the action of frost, the rail should be liftedit will be obvious that the drift bolts will be subjected to torsionalstrain and will yield before the base flange of the rail can shear off.It is to be noted with regard to this chair that primary fastenings,namely, the screw spikes 9 are provlded, whereby the chair is held tothe tie and secondary fastenings, namely, the drift bolts, whereby therail is held upon the chair and the rail base held in place. In order toadjust the rails, laterally, it is not necessary to remove the primaryfastenings but only necessary to remove the secondary fastenings, adjustthe rail and then read ust the secondary fastenings. Inasmuch as thechair is disposed permanently upon the tie, it is economically practicalto cover the upper face of the tie with tar or like preservative so asto prevent the action of moisture on the wood of the tie, if the tie ismade of wood. Further it is obvious that if it is desired to cant therail, the tie may be so surfaced or beveled as to give a slightinclination to the bed plate of the chair, or the bed plate may bebeveled.

Particular attention may be called in connection with the improved railchair to the official report of the Block Signal and Train Control Boardof the Interstate Commerce Commission, this report being dated June 29,1912, wherein certain requirements are laid down for rail supports andwherein the board says: A fundamental defect in design which is mostapparent is the failure to realize and appreciate the overturningmovement due to the wheel flange pressure against the head of the rail.It is not sufficient that the tie should support the vertical loads andresist directly horizontal thrusts and the tendency of the track to movelaterally and longitudinally, but the overturning movement must beresisted. In order that the tie may properly support the stressestransmitted to it by the rail, a suitable fastening of the rails to theties is most essential. Further the report states that under conditionsexisting in a large proportion of the railroads in this country themeans of adjustment of rail to tie must be such as to admit of blockingup or shimming. The board further says that adequate means should beprovided for shimming or for widening gage and this means should notinvolve lost motion and change of adjustment. It is pointed out that thepresent rail chair, as heretofore described, conforms to all of therequirements referred to in this report and at the same time that thefastenings are not of a complicated nature and that the chairs may bemade relatively cheap.

each other a distance greater than the width of the base of the rail tobe supported, rail braces disposed between the abutments and adapted toengage at their upper ends with the head of the rail and at their lowerends to engage over the base of the rail, the abutments being formedwith a. vertical series of apertures, and the braces each being formedwith an aperture adapted to register with any one of the apertures ofthe corresponding abutment, and locking means passing through theapertures in the abutments and braces and holding the latter in theiradjusted positions.

2. A rail chair comprising a bed plate having upstanding abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base,rail braces adapted to engage the rail and vertically adjustable withrelation to the abutments, and means for securing the rail braces to theabutments in any vertically adjusted position.

3. A rail chair comprising a bed plate having upstanding abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base,each of said abutments having a vertical series of perforationsextending through the perforations, rail braces disposed between theabutments and each engageable at its inner end with a rail and beingvertically adjustable therewith, each brace being formed with anextension overlapping the abutment and formed with a transverseperforation adapted to aline with any of the perforations of thecorresponding abutment, and means extending through the perforation forlaterally adjusting the said braces relative to the abutment.

4. A rail chair comprising a bed plate having upstanding abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base,each of said abutments having a vertical series of perforationsextending parallel to the rail to be supported, rail braces disposedbetween the abutments and each engageable at its inner end with a railand being vertically adjustable therewith, each brace being formed withan extension overlapping the abutment and formed with a transverseperforation adapted to aline with any of the perforations of thecorresponding abutments, and wedging members passing through saidperforations in the abutments and braces.

5. A rail chair comprising a bed plate having upstanding abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the each abutment andthrough the extension of width of a rail base, each of the saidabutments having a vertical series of perfora tions, rail bracesdisposed between the abutments andv each engageable at its inner endwith a rail and being vertically adjustable therewith, each brace beingformed with an extension overlapping the abutment and formed with atransverse perforation adapted to aline with any of the perforations ofthe corresponding abutment, and wedging members passing through saidperforations in the abutments and braces, each wedging member having alongitudinally inclined vertical face.

6. A rail chair comprising a bed plate having upstanding abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base,each of said abutments having a vertical series of perforations, railbraces disposed between the abutments and each engageable at its innerend with a rail and being vertically adjustable therewith, each bracebeing formed with an extension overlapping the abutment and formed witha transverse perforation adapted to aline with any of the perforationsof the corresponding abutment, and wedging members passing through saidperforations in the abutments and braces, each wedging member having alongitudinally inclined vertical face, and each wedging member having afin extending longitudinally the whole length of the member on one sidethereof, the face of this fin being inclined to the longitudinal axis ofthe wedging member.

7. A rail chair comprising a bed plate having upstanding abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width. of a railbase, each of said abutments having a vertical recess .on its insideface, rail braces disposed between said abutments and adapted to engagea rail supported on the chair, each brace havin an extension projectinginto the recess of the corresponding abutment, and wedging memberspassing through the lateral walls of the corresponding brace.

8. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingupstanding abutments formed integral therewith and disposed opposite toeach other, the abutments being spaced from each other a distancegreater than the width of a rail base, each of said abutments on itsinside face being vertically recessed, the lateral walls of the recessbeing formed with perforations, each of said perforations being formedwith a lateral extension, rail braces disposed between said abutments,each brace comprising a' downwardly and outwardly disposed portion and ahorizontaloutward extension, the extension of each brace being formedwith a transverse perforation having the same form as the perforationsin the walls of the corresponding recess, drift bolts, one for eachabutment, passing through the perforations in the side walls of therecess and through the perforation in the extension of the rail brace,each one of said bolts being provided with a lateral fin, the face ofthe fin being inclined from one end to the other toward the axis of thebolt, and means carried on the bolt for holding it in adjusted position.

9. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingupstanding abutments spaced from each other to permit the disposal of arail between them, rail engaging members disposed between the abutments,and means engaging the rail engaging members with the abutments atdifferent levels.

10. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingupstanding abutments spaced from each other to permit the disposal of arail between them, rail engaging members disposed between the abutments,and means carried by the abutments for wedging said rail engagingmembers laterally and holding them in any vertically adjusted position.

11. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingupstanding abutments spaced from each other to permit the disposal of arail between them, rail engaging members disposed between the abutments,and wedging members extending through said abutments and engaging therail engaging members and acting to wedge the rail engaging memberslaterally and to hold them in any vertically adjusted position.

12. In a'rail chair, a bed plate having an upstanding abutment, and arail engaging member coacting with the abutment and adjustable laterallyand vertically with respect to the bed-plate, said rail engaging memberand the abutment having registering perforations and a bolt engaging thesaid member to the abutment and passing through said perforations, saidbolt having a wedging face.

13. In a rail chair, a bed plate having an upstanding abutment, a railengaging member coacting with the abutment, said rail engaging memberand the abutment having registering perforations and a bolt holding saidmember to the abutment and passing through said perforations, said bolthaving a tapered fin extending longitudinally along the bolt.

1%. In a rail chair, a bed plate having an upstanding abutment, a railengaging member coacting with the abutment, said rail engaging memberand the abutment having registering perforations and a bolt holding saidmember to the abutment and passing through said perforations, said bolthaving a tapered fin extending longitudinally along it, and theperforations in the abutment and rail engaging member being formed withlateral enlargements in which the fin is accommodated.

15. In a rail chair, a bed plate having abutments, a rail braceadjustable laterally and vertically with respect to the bed-plate, andmeans passing through the abutments and brace, and adapted to wedge thebrace laterally with relation to the abutments.

16. In a rail chair, a bed plate having an abutment, a rail braceadjustable laterally and vertically with respect to the bed-plate, andmeans locking the brace to the abutment, and adapted to eXert a lateralwedging action upon the brace.

17. In a rail chair, a bed plate having an abutment, a rail braceadjustable laterally and vertically with respect to the bed-plate, andmeans locking the brace to the abutment, said means being adapted toexert a wedging action laterally and vertically upon the brace.

18. The combination with a bed-plate having oppositely disposedabutments, of a: rail adapted to rest on the bed-plate or on a shimbetween said abutments and adjustable laterally and vertically withrespect to the bed-plate, braces disposed on opposite sides of the railand engaging said rail and abutments, and means cooperating with thebraces and abutments whereby the rail may be adjusted laterally and heldin vertically adjusted positions.

19. A rail chair of the character described comprising a base platehaving oppositely disposed pairs of upstanding abutments spaced fromeach other a distance greater than the base flange of a rail, theabutments of each pair being provided with perforations, oppositelydisposed rail braces disposed inward of the abutments and adapted toengage a rail between them, each of said rail braces having a lateralperf0- rated extension engaging between the adjacent pair of abutments,and fastening devices passing through the perforations of the abutmentsand the rail brace extensions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST G. LIEBMANN. [Ls] Witnesses:

Fnnnnnro B. WRIGHT, J. D. YOAKLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

